Game device



GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1935 ff I f 1 flya 4 INVENTOR BY 4% 5f /@4.

ATTORNEY Patented UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME DEVICE Lewis LaVoice, Springfield, Mass., assignor of one-half to Earl Rowe,Springfield, Mass.

Application September 26, 1935, Serial No. 42,295

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in game devices and i s directedmore particularly to the provision of a novel device for use in thewellknown game of pitching shoes.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a device which isnovelly constructed and arranged so that when it is thrown at a stake orthe therewith, it

the desired position around the stake.

like so as to come into contact is more likely to come to rest in Thatis to say, the pitching shoe of this invention is formed in a desirablefor of the game.

certain way which makes it more its intended purpose in the playing Itis another object of the invention to provide a pitching shoe of theclass described which is constructed in such a way that the sliding ofthe device along the ground is facilitated if device easier to use. Notonly is the shoe of this invention simple in form so as to be economicalto manufacture but it tends to contribute much to the pleasure of thegame.

Various other objects and advantages will become more apparent after areading of the following description and reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of the inside elevational view ofthe device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of sectional view on the line4-4 of sectional elevational view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fullydescribed.

In the drawing, there is shown a device 2 which is generally U-shapedand this may be made of any relatively rigid material, such as cast ironor the like. It preferably is made in such a way that it consists of asingle or integral piece of material.

The device body portion the form of are side arm 2 has what may becalled a main 4 which is preferably curved in a semi-circle as shown andthere portions 6 extending forwardly in spaced relation from theopposite ends of the semi-circle.

The body 4 and arms 6 have generally flat surfaces in substantially thesame plane.

On one side of the central part of the body part 4 there is provided araised calk-like portion 8. The forward face H) of this portion 8 slopesdownwardly as shown, while there are beveled parts I2 at opposite sidesof the part 8.

It will be seen that the rear side of the part 8 is relatively widerthan the front side thereof. Also the rear face of the part 8 ispreferably in substantially the same plane as the rear face of the body4 so that a smooth and relatively wide surface is provided as shown inFig. 2.

There is what may be called a centrally-disposed projection M at theinner edge of the body 4. This is preferably curved as shown and in thisway there are recesses [5 at opposite sides thereof which are adapted toreceive the fingers,

if desired, when throwing the shoe. This tends to make for more accurateguiding of the throw.

Furthermore, the projection l4, being curved, is adapted to act as adeflecting member when it strikes the stake. That is to say, if thedevice is pitched so that its part l4 strikes the stake, it will tend tobe deflected to either side of the part [4 so that the arms 6 engage thestake rather than be propelled backwards so that arms 6 pass by oppositesides of the stake.

The forward ends of the arms 6 are formed so that their foremost edges20 converge rearwardly and inwardly as shown. That is to say, the saidends are so shaped that in the event that in pitching the shoe, theforward end of one of its arms 6 were to strike the stake, it wouldserve more or less as a cam and cause the device to be deflected ontothe stake.

The forward ends of the arms 6 are also provided with raised calk-likeparts l6. These extend upwardly from the side of the device as does thepart 8 and they have forward downwardly sloping faces l8 which alsoconverge rearwardly and inwardly as shown.

Not only do these faces I8 co-operate with the edges 20 to deflect thedevice in the desired manner, but they are so arranged that theyfacilitate the devices sliding on the ground towards the stake if, asabove stated, the device should happen to hit the ground before itreaches the stake.

One advantage of the device of this invention is that, as contrastedwith prior art devices of this class which are likely to boundobjectionably upon striking the ground, my new shoe is formed so that ittends to slide on its inclined surfaces I0, I2 and I8.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the inner edges of theforward parts of the side arms 6 are hook-shaped as at 22. These areadapted to engage the stake and in some cases prevent the device fromfalling out of the desired position.

The forward edges 20 of the arms are preferably inclined so that theangle a is approximately 80. In this way the forward ends of the deviceare more or less pointed as contrasted with the blunt ends of ordinaryplaying shoes and the desired cam effect is attained.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect toa preferred form there of, it is not desired to be limited thereto sincemany changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claimand secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A game device of the class described comprising in combination, asubstantially U-shaped member having substantially flat upper and lowersurfaces and including a semi-circular rear portion and arm portionsextending forwardly from opposite ends of the semi-circle, the forwardends of said arm portions being formed to have adjacent substantiallyvertical edges which converge inwardly and rearwardly from the outerextremities of the forward ends towards said rear portion and said armportions being provided with hooks on their inner sides which aredisposed at the rear of the termination of said vertical edges, andcalks provided on the upper surface of said forward ends of the armportions adjacent said vertical edges, the upper faces of said calksbeing substantially flat and inclining upwardly away from the verticaledges and in diverging directions with the planes of said facesconverging towards one another.

LEWIS LA VOICE.

